Game Psychology

Faced with the ceaseless stream of news about war, crime, and terrorism, one could easily think we live in the most violent age ever seen. Yet as New York Times bestselling author Steven Pinker shows in this startling and engaging new work, just the opposite is true: violence has been diminishing for millennia and we may be living in the most peaceful time in our species's existence.

Are videogames bad for us? It's the question on everyone's mind, given teenagers' captive attention to videogames and the media's tendency to scapegoat them. It's also - if you ask clinical psychologist Alexander Kriss - the wrong question. In his therapy office, Kriss looks at videogames as a window into the mind. Is his patient Liz really "addicted" to Candy Crush - or is she evading a deeper problem? And when Jack immerses himself in Mass Effect, is he eroding his social skills - or honing them via relationship - building gameplay?

For younger generations, dating is a complicated mystery. Apps like Tinder and Bumble are supposed to foster connection but instead serve as a reminder of how painfully single we are. Certified sexologist and intimacy coach Shan Boodram - the most sought-after sex educator on the internet - is about to change all that. In this essential how-to guide, she addresses the realities of life today - when the rules of love and attraction are fluid - and teaches a group of young women how to become master daters in just 60 days.

Mental training is just as important as physical training when it comes to success in sport. Like physical fitness, mental toughness is something that can be taught and learned. Bring Your "A" Game introduces key strategies for mental training, such as goal-setting, pre-performance routines, confidence building, and imagery. Each of the 17 chapters focuses on a single mental skill and offers key points and exercises designed to reinforce the concepts.

"The Mind Games THEY Play" is not about turning people into robots. It's about knowing what's up, reading the room, and making countable connections. It's also about connecting with people, rocking your emotional intelligence, and navigating life like a champ. From accelerating your career path to keeping your love life drama-free, this book has got your back.

To uncover the secrets of mental strength and success, Sam Sheridan interviewed dozens of the world's most fascinating and dangerous men.

If you are stuck in someone's control or don't want to be, you must know this favorite mind game of great manipulators. It is so powerful that most people won't be able to detect it even for many years of being enslaved. Why? Gaslighting is a very common method of manipulation that when intentionally or even unintentionally used, you'll be so influenced emotionally that you cannot think for yourself or for your own good. Sound nasty? It is. But you'll never know when you're participating as the inflictor or the prey until you explore this book.

It is no secret that more than two-thirds of the shots a golfer makes are shorts ones: putts, chips, and pitches. Long drives may garner applause, but whether a golfer wants to win the Masters or just five bucks from a friend on Saturday morning, it’s the little shots that make the difference. In The Unstoppable Golfer, Dr. Bob Rotella takes the same wisdom and experience that have worked for clients like Davis Love III and David Toms to help you master this special art of short shots and avoid all the frustration out of this increasingly challenging element of the game.

The Plant-Based Athlete by Matt Frazier and Robert Cheeke offers a persuasive body of evidence for adopting a plant-based lifestyle to achieve endurance, flexibility, sport, training, or lifting goals. Featuring more than 60 recipes, insights from famous plant-based athletes, and explosive scientific research, it is the ultimate invitation for joining the growing community of athletes (from elites to weekend warriors) who use plants to power their workouts and their every day.

The former Hollywood king reveals secret techniques with proven results on mastering the art of submission. A look inside of the mind of the master as well as a chilling peek into the shadow world. A modern-day guide parallel to The Prince by Machiavelli (link). This book gives a panoramic view of the psychology that goes into the complete control over others - mind, body, and spirit. Secrets known by a select sect and mastered by an elite few are finally exposed.

Technique, speed, and tactical execution are crucial components of winning soccer, but it is mental toughness that marks out the very best players - the ability to play when pressure is highest, the opposition is strongest, and fear is greatest. Top players and coaches understand the importance of sport psychology in soccer but how do you train your mind to become the best player you can be? Soccer Tough demystifies this crucial side of the game and offers practical techniques that will enable soccer players of all abilities to actively develop focus, energy, and confidence.

What if the mystery of market crashes stems from a simple but total misunderstanding of our own minds? Could everything we think we know about ourselves - intelligence and rationality versus emotion and irrationality - be wildly off the mark? Simply put: yes. With these words, Denise Shull introduces her radical - and supremely rational - approach to risk. Her vision stems from the indisputable fact that human beings can't make any decision at all without emotion and that emotion gets the first - and last - word when it comes to our perceptions and judgments.

Across the globe, therapists are using tabletop roleplaying games (RPG) such as Dungeons & Dragons as a part of their practice. This book provides an overview of what RPGs are and what makes them such an effective and powerful tool for therapy. By examining research on gaming, flow, immersion, and role-play, listeners will gain a better understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and how to skillfully and ethically use RPGs in their own practices.

Approach poker like a sport, and you'll have the opportunity to be paid like a professional athlete. Approach poker like a game, and you'll be lucky to break even. In poker, the margin between victory and defeat is razor-thin. It's a game where everyone wants to win, but few are doing what it takes to achieve greatness. Discover why those who approach the game as professional athletes have an unfair advantage over the field.

Collin is the founder and CEO of Master Your Mindset, LLC, a leader in the field of mental conditioning. Collin was a two-sport Division I athlete, Academic All-American, Pac-12 Champion, record setting medical sales professional, and national sales trainer. He has authored five books dealing with peak performance and his podcast, Master Your Mindset, has had 75,000 plus downloads world-wide. Collin’s innovative trainings on mindset, culture, and sales psychology have been utilized by some of the world’s best organizations.

Behavioral Economics: The Basics is the first book to provide a rigorous yet accessible overview of the growing field that attempts to uncover the psychological processes which mediate all the economic judgments and decisions we make. With recommended further readings throughout, this book is essential for all students taking courses in behavioral economics, economic psychology, consumer psychology, microeconomicsm and game theory, and also for professionals looking for an accessible introduction to the topic.

The Psychology of Dungeons & Dragons, is relevant to players, game masters, and even game designers. It applies decades of established and cutting-edge research to help listeners understand how playing the game drives behaviors, shapes play, impacts relationships, and changes players once they put away the dice. Every chapter concludes with specific, practical tips and takeaways for players and game masters to use not only in their games of Dungeons & Dragons but also in any other tabletop role-playing game.

From the author of The Pimp Game: Instructional Guide comes book two, with advanced lessons in psychological mastery. It dissects techniques of the secret societies, which explain how few minds control so many. What makes one submit to the will of another?

Predictably Irrational meets Moneyball in ESPN veteran writer and statistical analyst Keith Law's iconoclastic look at the numbers game of baseball, proving why some of the most trusted stats are surprisingly wrong, explaining what numbers actually work, and exploring what the rise of Big Data means for the future of the sport.

As a therapist, physician, and mental coach, Dr. Michael Lardon has dedicated his career to helping athletes understand and better achieve peak performance. In Finding Your Zone, he shares with listeners what he's discovered about reaching the state in which "thoughts and actions are occurring in complete synchronicity" and how this state is accessible to all, not just the few. In 10 key lessons - illustrated by personal anecdotes from his clients - Lardon teaches listeners how to access the zone not only in sports but in all aspects of their lives.